Scott County Sheriff Mike Cross told 6 News Wednesday that Officer Travis Harness was terminated because of the incident.
Harness, who had been with the sheriff's office for about two years, now faces a charge of intent to kill an animal.
Harness was off duty last week when he shot a woman's dog with a personal gun and tried to bury it in the woods.
Craig Anderson told investigators that Harness shot the dog for no reason in the middle of Hurricane Road, in the Norma community.
The dog was an eight-year-old Miniature Schnauzer.
The dog's owner, Lisa Anderson, filed a complaint which lead to the charge.
The former corrections officer told investigators he ran over the dog on Hurricane Road, and that he shot the dog to put it out of its misery.
Sheriff Cross said Harness tried to bury the dog in the woods after the shooting.
The dog's body was sent to the University of Tennessee Vet School for a necropsy, where it was determined that the dog died from a gunshot wound and had no other life threatening injuries.
Harness was originally placed on administrative paid leave, but after the necropsy results were released, his employment with the sheriff's department was terminated.
"It was an unfortunate situation for both parties. Through the department's criminal investigation detectives, the case was appropriately investigated and proper action was taken," said Sheriff Cross.
6 News spoke to a resident who was outraged and thinks the punishment fits the crime.
"He ought to be under better standards than we are," said Troy Seabolt, who lives near the shooting site. "He's under a sworn oath; his standards are to be better than mine. To do something like that, it's pretty bad."
It's unclear why Harness decided to shoot the dog. Harness has no criminal history.
Harness will be in court for an arraignment on June 19 at 9 a.m.
(WATE - June 12, 2013)
